Jerky Dynasty - A Tasty Review!

 

How could I pass up a chance to review jerky from Jerky Dynasty! As a hunter, jerky is one of the staples of my diet, especially when in the field so I was excited to start the taste testing process!

 

I received a sample pack from www.JerkyDynasty.com and passed out samples to my husband, a non-hunter coworker and of course myself. Below will be the compiled results of each flavor including a 'star' rating from 1 to 5 (5 being the best).

 

 

 

Venison Fire Stick (5 stars)

It's venison so of course its good!

Spicy (might be too much for someone who doesn't like spicy foods)

lean, good meat, excellent flavor

 

 

Pheasant Stick (2 stars)

Very soft texture, almost mushy probably my least favorite.

Non-hunter tester stated it reminded him of candied yams & Thanksgiving flavors

 

 

Elk Peppered Stick (5 stars)

Great flavor, prime meat, lean, healthy - nearly perfect!

 

 

Wild Boar BBQ Stick (4.5 stars)

Being an avid pig hunter this ranked towards the top as well! Very mild with a touch of wild.

Very good BBQ flavor, not overpowering, sweet & sour, slight teriyaki

 

 

Beef & Ostrich Stick (3 Stars)

Sweet & mild. Nothing extraordinary.

Non-hunter tester said it had a good 'licorice burst'

 

 

Alligator Stick Cajun Style (2 Stars)

Least favorite of the alligator jerky.

Mushy, not much Cajun flavor, greasy & very strong alligator flavor.

 

 

Alligator Cajun Strip (3.5 Stars)

Tough but once softened up has a good spice. Nothing overpowering.

 

 

Alligator BBQ Strip (4.5 Stars)

Favorite alligator jerky flavor, good BBQ flavor, sweet, tender, smoky/hickory

Softer than the Cajun alligator strip

 

 

 

Smoked Buffalo Strip (4.5 Stars)

Great overall jerky, hint of buffalo, tender

 

 

Kangaroo Strip (2 Stars)

Very tough, almost leathery.

Very "gamey" but different & unlike anything I have had before.

 

 

 

It's always exciting to try new things, especially food and wild game jerky so although not every piece was my favorite I would eat them all again!

 

Check out Jerky Dynasty at www.JerkyDynasty.com and on Twitter @JerkyDynasty. They have exotic jerky, summer sausage and so much more! Fill your packs this hunting season with all flavors of jerky to keep your taste buds happy!

 

 

 

 

USSA The Most Important Hunting Tool: A Healthy Body

Once again I have had the honor of continuing as a guest writer for the United States Sportsman's Alliance (http://www.ussportsmen.org/)  They are a truly amazing organization who are actively protecting our hunting heritage and I am proud to be a member as well.

 

You can read it on their website on the Presidents Blog here: http://www.ussportsmen.org/news/themostimportanthuntingtool/

and I have posted it here with additional pictures for motivation:

 

 

What is the most important tool needed for hunting? Most will say their bow, gun, GPS, or knife, but I will disagree with all of your answers and venture to say that your body is the most important tool used for hunting and outdoor activities. Like any other tool or weapon, your body requires maintenance, fuel or ammunition to function, and consistent training in real-life situations. So why do so many of us wait until hunting season is upon us to start eating better and become weekend workout warriors? Most of us don’t leave our weapons, trail cameras, hunting gear, and tools locked up until the day before we go on a hunt. Instead we scout, plan, prepare, practice, educate, and put in tireless effort months before or sometimes year round. So what makes our body, the tool that will carry us through all of this, any different?

 

 

The need for year round maintenance and care for our bodies is essential to prepare and maintain during the crazy chaos of hunting season. It was brought to my attention that so many hunters spend the months of hunting season bouncing around from state to state eating whatever they can find at the nearest gas station or local fast food drive thru. We all know this is not beneficial but we still do it. A few bad meals shouldn’t hurt us but if we aren’t doing much during ‘offseason’ then it could be detrimental now and in the long run. Hunters need to keep a consistent lifestyle of diet and exercise in their off seasons so a bad week or weekend of burgers and fries won’t derail our bodies. The ideal situation would be healthy eating on every hunting trip but for most of us that is not realistic depending on location, amenities, food sources, and schedule. We should all strive to make every meal as healthy as possible, especially on grueling hunts where protein and nutrients are essential, and some are able to do this with meal preparation and planning. I am not one of those but I do try to make good decisions on the road and in the field.

 

I am far from a personal trainer, a nutrition expert, or perfect in my health habits, but I have learned what works for my body over the years and tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle in both diet and exercise. I am fortunate enough to hunt wild pigs year round in Texas, so I truly never have a hunting offseason, but I can get complacent and lazy. Whitetail and big game seasons bring a need for increased dedication because of the travel and limited diet and exercise resources upping the ante for better offseason dedication.

 

 

I prefer to work out at home with high intensity interval style workouts because the exercises incorporate bodyweight and minimal equipment which allows me to take these exercises on the road. I also use the bow trainer tool to keep my ‘bow muscles’ working when I can’t shoot. Home workouts require a high level of motivation and may not be for everyone, but each person must find their inner motivation to push themselves and possibly an exercise partner or trainer to keep you accountable; find what works for you, make it fun and consistent. Healthy eating habits are not something that happens overnight and will almost always be a struggle. My biggest piece of advice is to start by making small changes to your meals and view food as fuel for your body; wheat instead of white, fruits instead of sweets, and gradually incorporated better habits and push out the negative ones.

 

 

These small changes throughout the year help create a lifestyle that I carry into hunting season. I find myself buying almonds and pistachios instead of candy bars for snacks on the road and in the field; I notice my eyes darting around on menus for grilled, steamed, or baked instead of fried foods. This is not always easy in some of the small towns that I hunt in or remote locations. Local diners and fast food stops will happen and sometimes we only cook on BBQ pits because the ranch doesn’t have a stove or running water. Healthy eating is very difficult on the road but making better choices when we are home or during the offseason can help counteract the ones we sometimes cannot avoid.

Take care of your body and it will take care of you. It is the most important hunting tool you have; it gets us to and from the stands, or high up into the mountains, and is fundamental in packing out that trophy animal. Maintain your body year round because it’s the number one tool in your hunting gear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preggo Porker Part 2

 

After Friday night’s hunt resulting in a 175 pound pregnant sow (See Preggo Porker Part 1 - http://camocandace.blogspot.com/2014/09/preggo-porker-part-1.html ) and Saturday night being a little quiet, I was excited to take advantage of the three day weekend and head back out for a Sunday night hunt!

I showed up a little earlier than usual and was set up and ready before the sun went down. The trail camera pictures had been showing all the pigs coming in after dark and usually after the second feeding at 10pm; but this hunt I was in my chair, under a tree, 23 yards from the feeder by 8:15pm and it's a good thing I was there early!

This feeder has a homemade red light set up we have been trying out and it has been working great; it's a motion sensor light that comes on after dark with movement. It has been pretty helpful at getting the pigs comfortable with the red lights which are the Nite Hunter bow lights we use.

 

  

As I nestled in, kicked on the Thermacell, the the sun faded and about 8:45pm I saw a big mass moving in from my left headed straight for the feeder. It looked like another pregnant sow but it was hard to tell in the dark until she made it under the feeder and turned on the motion light. There she was, under the feeder, eating corn, facing me. I didn't have a shot!

So as I sat patiently waiting, she continued to eat, and eat, and eat! This sow was already a little spooked coming in so I was keeping quiet and just watching. Nearly 20 minutes of eating either facing me or hard quartering to me she finally shifted a little bit. My pin lights were on but I also clicked on my red bow light for added brightness. Because the pigs have become accustomed to the red feeder light, another red light doesn't affect them but makes it brighter for a more clear shot for me. I had lit up the glow in the dark paint on my peep sight with my phone and I drew back, but as soon as I drew she turned back facing me. Hold or let down? Knowing this solo sow wasn't moving around quickly (usually in larger groups the pigs will push and move each other around trying to eat and are constantly moving) I decided to let down and not risk exhausting myself waiting for a shot and it's a good thing I did. 

Another 10-15 minutes passed and she would not present a shot. Not only was she quartering to me but her shoulder was partially blocked by the feeder leg. So I waited. I just knew she was going to eat up all the corn and leave before I could get a shot. I stood up to see if I could swing around and get a better angle but as I moved right, staying in my good wind pattern, I moved out from the shadows of the tree and into the moonlight. I quickly retreated! Pigs do not have the best vision but any type of shadows will spook them; standing with the moon behind me trying to draw was not a good idea especially with her facing me and already being spooked. As I sat back in my spot I was running out of hope. It was 9:30 by now and I didn't know how much longer she would stay. 

 

Finally she started moving completely under the feeder and presenting a better angle for me. I drew and realized I had left my bow light on this whole time to keep from clicking on and off making unnecessary noise and now my battery was dead. (They are rechargeable batteries but it had been quite a few hunts since I had charged it-bad move!) It wasn't going to be as bright as I preferred but I still had the feeder light. 

She finally turned but was still slightly quartering to me but I figured this was going to be the best shot and she was moving around more which probably meant she was running out of corn. I shot (again without lighted nocks) and knew it passed through her. It was a little further back than I wanted but I saw her limping so I grabbed my handheld red light and followed her. She was a lighter colored sow so I was able to see where I shot her and the blood coming out but was worried it was too far back and might need another arrow. I had already knocked one as I followed her but my bow light was dead and she wasn't under the feeder light anymore. I contemplated trying to hold the red flashlight in my mouth while trying to launch another arrow but quickly discounted that idea for my safety and to keep from making a poor shot on the sow. I set my bow down and pulled my pistol to be ready for a possible charge. You truly never know with pigs, especially a wounded pregnant porker! She made her way under a tree and buried herself under the brush and died.

I kept the light on her and watched for about 10 minutes to make sure she wouldn't get up and leave before going to get the truck. I was solo on this hunt and knew the work ahead of me. I packed up and walked back to bring the truck with the hitch hoist because this was a big girl. I backed the truck down and then my heart sank. I finally noticed the brush she had buried herself in was covered in thorns! Just my luck! I broke off a long branch to poke her with just to make sure (while holding the pistol in my hand) before I went under the tree and into the brush in a vulnerable position.

I started backing in since my legs were covered and as the brush and thorns hit my neck and got tangled in my hair I finally got to her but only her butt was accessible and both feet were tucked under herself. So I grabbed her tail and started pulling. She moved but because she was big girl I heard her tail start ripping! Dang it! So I dropped to my knees and was able to reach back and grab a foot and started pulling. It was a struggle pulling her out without any leverage of my legs until I got where I could stand up. Luckily I didn't have to go far (otherwise I would have used my game hauler strap) because I was able to back the truck up really close. 

 

There she was! Confirmed another pregnant sow with a big full belly! Now the fun part began and I took a selfie with her! I removed the hitch and put the hitch hoist together while dripping with sweat. I forgot to mention it was 90 degrees and 87% humidity at 10:00pm so breathing was difficult and I was drenched before the hard work even began! Using head lamps and flashlights was my light source which meant thousands of gnats were swarming everywhere. I ate a few, ingested some via my nostrils, killed some on the corners of my eye and at one point went to wipe the sweat off my neck and scraped off a few hundred gnats that had drowned in my sweat! This was crazy but I was already knee deep in the process and knew when I came out here what I got myself into!


I got my knife out and cut her legs to put the Ultimate Hanger leg spreader in, attached the scale and began to crank the hoist. The first few turns were easy but as she lifted off the ground I slowed down. For the next ten minutes I looked like a crazy person pushing, pulling, putting my leg on the hoist for leverage and doing anything to wench her up. Of course I parked on a small slope so gravity was pulling her away from me (once again my luck and my fault for not paying attention but in my defense I could barely see through the sweat!)


After what seemed like forever I saw her nose pull away from the ground and start swinging (just barely but it was enough!) I checked the weight and it was about 170 pounds. Now it was time for pictures, sweaty pictures, but I had to get a few other than the selfie I took earlier. I set up the tripod and the self timer on the camera and tried my best to look decent while I looked like I had just finished swimming and my pants were starting to sag from all the sweat! Yes the glamorous side of hunting! At least my 'gnat-neck' wasn't visible! 

Swivel her in the back of the truck, disassemble the hitch hoist, the camera and put everything up and after about an hour and a half head out to deliver to one of the ranch hands! What a night! Luckily I had an extra shirt to put on because I could wring mine out with sweat! I was exhausted but felt accomplished! Another preggo porker down, another group of piglets averted from populating the area and meat for a family! Now that's a Sunday night!

 

Preggo Porker Part 1

 

 

It was Friday night and I was headed out to hunt pigs which was mostly normal for me. I try to go every chance I get and I am beyond blessed to hunt a beautiful place only 25 minutes from my house. For those that follow me on twitter, you know the pigs out there have been elusive lately and it had been a while since I was able to have it all come together. But there is more meaning behind this pig than most know. 

When we learned we would be going on an elk hunt for the first time I knew I needed to make some changes to my bow; really focus on getting it fine-tuned perfectly, get sighted in out to 40-50 yards and feel comfortable shooting at that distance. With a lower draw weight of 44lbs I usually won't shoot a whitetail deer past 30-35 yards and risk them jumping my string and wounding the deer. But with a larger animal like an elk I was willing to move out. 

Anyway...I changed to a heavier arrow, bumped up to 125 grain broad heads (Slick Trick Viper Tricks) & started fine tuning. Again as you may know nothing ever comes easy for me and the journey to where I am now has been a difficult one. Fine tuning was a struggle as well not to mention Colorado does not allow any battery operated devices on a bow including lighted nocks. 

As simple as that sounds switching from my Nockturnals to plain plastic nocks coupled with the other changes was not that simple...for me anyhow. Different weight of nock, changing the D-loop a little and really getting down to true arrow flight details made for some frustrating days. I would get it right (or so I thought) and then be wrong again. 

I also was having to remove my bow light (Nite Hunter Illumination) to practice for elk and then put it on to go hunt pigs and compensate. I could never just pick up my bow and head out because I was practicing for elk but having to adjust for pigs. It doesn't seem like much but when you're struggling to get everything as perfect as possible, those little changes detract from your progress and more than anything affect your mental frame of mind too. So after a few months of heartache (because I take it to heart when I'm struggling) a lot of frustration and changes, I was finally able to make it come together and get my head right too. 

About 10:15 a pregnant sow showed up to the feeder (I had seen her on trial camera for a while and she was there the night before too) but as I sat 23 yards away in a chair under a tree she actually detoured right by me about 10 yards before heading to the feeder. I almost pulled my pistol because she got a little too close but I stopped. I wanted her with my bow. She moved in and then a big boar and two smaller pigs came in as well. As she ate corn and I waited for them to get comfortable, she began head butting the boar and ran him away from the feeder, stomped one of the smaller pigs which made it squeal (and made me smile). This fat girl didn't want anybody getting her corn. (Funny to see a pregnant sow fighting for her food! Must have been hormones haha)

 

So as time passed I sat insanely still because there wasn't an ounce of wind blowing. I watched as she kept running the pigs off to protect her corn. Finally after about 20 minutes she moved outside the feeder legs to present a shot. Here is where the hard work came into play and why I am so proud of the great shot I made (not bragging just excited!)

With my bow light on I was shooting 2 inches to the left at 20 yards (yes I had to practice that too) so I had to compensate for that and I was shooting regular plastic nocks so seeing my arrow hit her was going to be a challenge. All of this going through my mind in addition to proper shot placement, staying quiet, drawing back, watching the other pigs, and hoping this sow would stand still long enough to make it come together. 

I drew, moved 2 inches to the right and released. I kept my light on her to see my arrow hit her as best I could and she ran. The shot felt good to me and I was pretty excited but with pigs sometimes you just never know. I waited a few minutes, sent a text to my buddy that I had shot and then went off to look for blood. 

 

There wasn't any at the impact site nor did I find my arrow there. I walked about 40 yards where I saw her run and saw a branch laying over with blood smeared all on it! Yes!! I followed a great blood trail (bleeding from both sides) for about 30 yards, found a piece of my arrow she broke off, covered in blood. She had gone under a fence so I went to get my buddy to finish the tracking job and help with the recover. I was pretty sure it was a good shot but tracking a pig in the brush is never 100% safe, especially alone. 

We crossed the fence and followed the blood trail another 30-40 yards and as my buddy pointed out in front and said 'There She Is!'  I ran over and started jumping up and down! There with a perfect shot on the shoulder (which meant I compensated accurately) was my big sow! It was the greatest confirmation that all the hard work and frustration was worth it and all the changes I made were right! It was a great moment that I was glad to share with a great friend and was very thankful he was there to help get her pregnant 175 pound butt out of the brush and into the truck!